Automobile body aerial



Apl'll 9, 1940- J.

AUTOMOBILE BODY AERIAL Filed Aug. '7, 1935 INVENTOR. fair/1 Kidd/d4. Ma,WYQ h A TTORNEY6.

Patented Apr. 9, 1940 2,196,369 I AUTOMOBILE BODY AERIAL John Tjaarda,Birmingham, Mich., assignor to Briggs Manufacturing Company, Detroit,Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 7, 1935, Serial No.35,118

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in antennae or aerialsparticularly adapted for use on motor vehicles.

, An object of the invention is to provide an improved aerial or antennainstallation in which the aerial or signal receiving portion of theantenna circuit is mounted on the roof of the motor vehicle andexteriorly thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved aerialinstallation-for a motor vehicle, particularly an automobile, having anall steel or metal roof, the aerial being carried exteriorly of thesteel roof and insulated therefrom in improved manner.

1' Other objects of this invention will appear in the followingdescription and appended claim, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing forming a part of this'specification wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an automobile having an aerial mountedon the roof thereof pursuant to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary central longitudinal section through the body. I

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view illustrating the connection of theaerial to the lead-in conductor.

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken through one of the insulating spacermembers.

Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out in Various ways. Also it is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intendedto limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of theprior art. a One embodiment of the invention as applied to an automobileA having an all steel roof panel In is illustrated, by way of example,in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. The antenna circuit includes an aerial l Ipreferably in the form of a heavy gauge 50 copper wire or a copper rod,as shown, having substantial rigidity and strength against bending ordistortion during use of the car. In the present instance, the aerialrod ll extends in one direction longitudinally and centrally of the 5roof and is supported in spaced parallel relation Fig. 5 is a sectiontaken through lines 5-5 of thereto by means of insulators indicated as awhole at l2.

Each insulating spacer member l2 comprises an eye or ring l3 havingfitted therein a tubular or sleeve-like insulating member M of suitable5 material such as hard rubber composition, fiber, or synthetic resinmaterial. The aerial rod ll passes snugly through the insulating parts Mof the several members l2. Each ring l3 terminates in an elongatedcylindrical shank l5 m threaded at its lower end "5, which passesthrough a hole in the metal roof panel I0. Surrounding the shank I5 is aspacer sleeve IT. The upper end of this sleeve has opposed verticalslots or, notches l8 to receive and provide clearance for the lowersides of the eye l3. The sleeve terminates in opposed seats l9 curved tofit the curvature of the insulating sleeve l4. Interposed between thelower end of the spacer l1 and the roof panel is a non-metallicinsulating washer 20 of fiber, rubber or the like, centrally aperturedto receive the shank l5. At the underside of the roof panel is aninsulating washer 2| of similar non-metallic material, preferablyrubher, which has a central boss portion fitting 5 snugly into the holein the roof panel between the edge thereof and the shank l5, as seeninFigs. 4 and 5. By tightening the nut 22 on the threaded portion iii ofthe shank, the insulating sleeve l4 will be drawn down tightly againstthe sleeve l1 which will bear tightly on the washer 20. The washers 20and 2| will be clamped against the panel l0, thus providing a firmwater-tight joint. Moreover, pressure of the upper split ends of sleeveH on the sleeve M will distort the same a slight amount suflicient,however, to firmly grip the aerial rod l l.

The forward end of the aerial rod II has a right angle bend Haterminating in a reduced portion Ilbpassing through a hole in the roofpanel Iii, see Fig. 3, and threadedat 23. Surrounding the reducedportion I lb is an insulating washer 25 of non-metallic material,preferably rubber composition, which has a boss fitting into the hole inpanel Ill around the part llb this washer resting against the shoulder24. At the under-side of the'panel is an insulating washer 26 and theparts are firmly clamped together making a rigid Water-tight joint bythe nut 21.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the aerial comprises preferablya relatively rigid wire or red H firmly supported on the metal roofpanel by spacer members and fully insulated therefrom. The forward end ito of the aerial .passes through the forward end of the panel near thewindshield header, while being insulated therefrom, and at all points ofconnection to the roof the joints are fully water-tight.

The rod ll may be extended beyond the threaded part 23 to provide abinding post 28 to which the lead-in conductor Wire 29 is attachedthrough set screw 36. It will be seen that the interior parts 23, 28, 29of the antenna are located between the interior fabric trim material 3|and the inside face of the roof panel 16, as seen in Fig. 2. The lead-inwire 29 may extend down the pillar at one edge of the windshield andthence to the radio receiving set 32 shown schematically in Fig. 2.Suitable coupling apparatus is employed in accordance with conventionalpractice for connecting the antenna circuit to the radio receiver, theset being grounded to the chassis or other metallic mass of the vehicleproviding a suitable counterpoise for the antenna circuit of thereceiver.

Although in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1

the outside aerial extends in one direction longitudinally of thevehicle, it is understood that the aerial rod may be formed in a loop orotherwise so as to extend in more than one direction thereby to ensurethe best reception. In like manner, the aerial members 35 and 46 and theroof panel grooves or channels of the remaining embodiments may beextended in any direction or directions desired so as to secure thewidest range of reception.

I claim:

In a vehicle body having a curved metal roof panel, an aerial includinga relatively rigid rod extending substantially parallel to the plane ofand conforming substantially to the curvature of said panel exteriorlythereof, said rod including a bent end portion extending through thepanel and adapted to be connected to a receiving set within the body andmeans for insulatingly securing said portion to the roof panel.

JOHN TJAARDA.

